Bangladesh

171.1

Population 2022 (Millions)

0.66

HDI Score
2021 (Max. 1)

65.9

SDG Score
2023
(Max. 100)

0.53

Gender Inequality
Index Score
(Max. 1)

64

Internet Inclusivity
Index 2022
(100 countries)

Sources: 1. World Bank (2022), 2, UNDP (2021), 3. Sustainable Development Report (2023), 4. UNDP (2021), 5. Economist Impact (2022)

Overview

Situated in the delta of the Padma (Ganges) River in South Asia, Bangladesh has a large population, of which the vast majority are Bengali. As one of the most densely populated countries in the world, its unique location is also one of its most detrimental factors in terms of development, as it is susceptible to extreme flooding from yearly monsoon rains and cyclones. The economy is largely dependent on agriculture which, being seasonal, contributes to high seasonal unemployment. Famously, Bangladesh is also home to a large number of Rohingya refugees, with up to a million residing in the Cox’s Bazar area of the capital, Dhaka. Despite reaching lower-middle income status, the country still faces significant challenges in terms of further poverty reduction, extreme exposure to climate change, and the need to advance gender equality.

Projects

Geo-Spatial Analysis of Care Systems in Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh
  • March 2024 - August 2024
  • P4 - Data Feminism

In line with ensuring high-quality evidence for informing decision-making and investment in the care economy, UN-Women, in collaboration with DPA, conducted a geo-spatial analysis of care systems in Bangladesh. The geo-spatial analysis identified districts with the highest concentration of children alongside other age-specific ‘care demands’ and concurrently examined women’s employment rates and other economic characteristics. Furthermore, climate-related characteristics of locations of interest were included to better understand the potential effect of climate change on care demands. The ultimate objective of this research was to enhance evidence-informed decision-making for investments into different types of care delivery models for different demands.

Digital Maturity Assessment: Methodology Development and Implementation
  • Bangladesh, Global, Sudan
  • November 2021 - June 2022
  • P1 - Just Digital Transformations

DPA developed a Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) framework to provide Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Country Offices with a tool to self-assess their digital transformation journey based on the perceptions and experiences of its staff. The DMA framework is the analytical background guiding the calculation of a Digital Maturity Score that measures the level of digital transformation in the COs based on qualitative data on: Digital ecosystem, data, and tech management; User-centricity and digital inclusion; Digital mindset, literacy, and innovation; Strategy, governance, policies, and frameworks; Investment and partnerships. The DMA was tested in the COs in Bangladesh and Sudan. The results and outputs of these pilots were made available in an interactive dashboard created to facilitate the visualization and extraction of insights.

Landscape Mapping and Review of Technology-based Interventions to Mitigate Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
  • Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Sudan, Uganda, Zambia
  • July 2022- January 2023
  • P4 - Data Feminism

DPA, in collaboration with UNICEF and UNFPA, conducted a comprehensive landscape mapping of key technology-based interventions to mitigate child-marriage and FGM through empowerment of girls and to review the digital solutions and tools used in these interventions, their effectiveness and potential areas for improvement in 13 countries in Africa and Asia. The methodology proposed by DPA was based on an analysis that integrated both quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as traditional and non-traditional data sources collected at different stages of the study, underpinned by a participatory approach involving UNICEF, UNFPA and other stakeholders that provided feedback and input throughout the entire project.

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Strategic Evaluation of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Use of Technology in Constrained Environments
  • Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Niger, South Sudan, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • September 2020 - February 2022
  • P1 - Just Digital Transformations

This evaluation, developed in collaboration with ADE, looked at the extent to which WFP has effectively and efficiently deployed the most appropriate Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and how, why and under which conditions the use of technologies has contributed to management and program objectives. The team designed a mixed methods approach consistent with WFP’s proposed analytical framework and outlined the factors affecting technological innovation and diffusion. In addition, six case studies were conducted in Jordan, Niger, Iraq, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bangladesh.

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